President Bush Commemorates Military Spouse Day and Presents
the President's Volunteer Service Awards
On April 17, 1984, President Ronald Reagan signed a proclamation
recognizing Military Spouse Day. This observance was established to
acknowledge the impact military spouses have on the readiness and wellbeing of service members, and to honor their volunteer service in
educational, social, and community endeavors. In May 1999, Congress
passed a resolution designating May as National Military Appreciation
Month. During this month, the United States observes Memorial Day,
Victory in Europe Day, Armed Forces Week, and Military Spouse Day,
which is held annually on the Friday before Mother’s Day.
Biographies of the Awardees
Cindy Bjerke, United States Army Spouse
(Spanaway, Washington)
Cindy Bjerke’s husband, Battalion Command Sergeant Major Alan Bjerke,
has served 26 years in the United States Army. He deployed to Iraq in
June 2006 with the Second Battalion Third Infantry Regiment from Fort
Lewis, Washington, and is stationed in Baghdad. Mrs. Bjerke is an advisor
for the Patriot Family Readiness Group which provides guidance,
resources, and emotional support to military spouses and families. Mrs.
Bjerke also volunteers with Family Assessment for Maintaining Excellence,
a program in which families of deployed soldiers can receive assistance
from mental health professionals. In addition, Mrs. Bjerke volunteers with
the Army Family Action Plan, which is a program designed to ensure that
the standards of living in the Army match the needs of the families. Cindy
and Alan have two children.
Michele Langford, United States Coast Guard Spouse
(Alameda, California)
Michele Langford’s husband, Lieutenant Ken Langford, has served 18
years with the United States Coast Guard. She is the President of the
Coast Guard East Bay Spouses Association, which helps new military
spouses acclimate to the local area and provides them with networking
opportunities. Mrs. Langford plans fundraising events for the Association’s
annual educational scholarship program, which benefits dependent
children of active duty, retired, or deceased military members. She also
works with the Layette Fund, an outreach service for new parents that
provides clothing and nursery items to junior enlisted families in the local
area. For the past four years, Mrs. Langford has served as President of the
Parents Advisory Committee at the Alameda Coast Guard Child
Development. Michele and Ken have two children.
Shannon Maxwell, United States Marine Corps Spouse
(Jacksonville, North Carolina)
Shannon Maxwell’s husband, Lieutenant Colonel Tim Maxwell, was
severely wounded in Iraq after shrapnel from a mortar attack left him with a
traumatic brain injury in October 2004. As a result, Mrs. Maxwell cofounded Hope for the Warriors, a non-profit organization whose mission is
to enhance the quality of life for service members and their families who
have been affected by injuries or death in the line of duty. Mrs. Maxwell
organizes annual fundraising events to benefit men and women wounded
in Afghanistan and Iraq and their families. She has been instrumental in
working to bring the first Fisher House to a Marine Corps Installation. She
secured temporary adaptive housing for visiting families of the wounded at
Camp Lejeune and created the Wounded Warrior Spousal Support Group
for military families. Shannon and Tim have two children.
Linda Port, United States Navy Spouse
(Langley Air Force Base, Virginia)
Linda Port’s husband, Command Master Chief Jon Port, serves in the
Navy. She has served as a mentor to young Navy spouses through her
involvement with the Enlisted Spouse Groups. She is working to establish
a Family Readiness Group that will provide support to more than 800
personnel assigned with her husband on the Pre-Commissioning Unit
George H.W. Bush. During one of her husband’s tours, she served as
ombudsman to the families of more than 1,200 Sailors serving in the
command. In this role she provided information and moral support to
military members and their spouses. Mrs. Port has worked with the United
Services Organization to provide services and activities to young Sailors
and has served as a member of the Naval Hospital Customer Service
Board. Linda and Jon have three children.
Denise Rampolla, U.S. National Guard Spouse
(Cheyenne, Wyoming)
Denise Rampolla’s husband, Captain Pedro Rampolla, deployed to Iraq
earlier this month with the 447th Air Expeditionary Group. Mrs. Rampolla
works with the Family Readiness and Support Services for the 153rd Air
Lift Wing of the Wyoming Air National Guard, and she is a member of the
Veterans of Foreign Wars Ladies Auxiliary program, which sponsors
activities for children of deployed service members. She has provided
outreach and support to military families by serving as a Key Spouse and
Family Readiness Group manager during deployments. In 2002 she was
appointed a representative of the National Military Family Association.
Through this program, she works to increase the quality of life and benefits
to military members and their families. Denise and Pedro have four sons.
Michael Winton, United States Air Force Spouse
(Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio)
Michael Winton served 15 years on active duty in the United States Air
Force, retiring in 1994. He is married to Colonel Joan Cunningham. He is
also the primary caregiver to their daughter Natalee. He has helped build
homes for families in need with Habitat for Humanity and Rebuilding
Together. As a registered Therapy Team, Mr. Winton and his Golden
Retriever canine partner, Jenny, assisted with patients in the physical
therapy department of the Oklahoma Veterans Center. Mr. Winton has
been a volunteer with the Key Spouse and Heart Link programs which
support deployed families and provide mentorship to new Air Force
spouses. Mr. Winton has worked with Fisher-Nightingale Houses and Sew
Much Comfort to provide assistance to injured troops and their families; he
also helped restructure the Food Pantry at Tinker Air Force Base.